The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-16
COY AND HIS CRIME.
Opinions of Prominent Citizens as to the
Political Effect of the TaIIy-Shset Forgeries.

Opinions of Prominent Citizens as the
Political Effect of the Tally-shset Forgeries
In dianapolis Letter New York Mail and Express
The failure of the federal jury to agree upon
verdict in the case of Simeon Coy and his eight
felow-conspirators in the tally sheet forgerIes
of last November, the trial of which has just
concluded, will bear large political frultage.
From Republican stand point. purely partisan,
the outcome of this famous trial could not be
improved upon. Indianapolis perhaps more dis
tinctivey than any capital of the thirty eight
States controls and dominates the political SEN
timent of its common wealth. 1t is the only city
of any considerable size in the State containing
about 100 600 people, and from here goes out all
the material upon which political opinions are
predcated.
Who is Coy7 He is a poticals boss, a small
one but quite large enough for Indianapolis, and
growing. A few years ago he was a painter, a
carriage striper; later barkeeper; then proprie-
tor of two saloons which gave him a seat in the
City Council, position he has held seven years.
He is thirty -seyen years ole, and though
at times running gaming rooms IN con-
nection with his liquor stores, he neither
Democrats county committee, makes and I'M
makes candidates, distributes official patronage
directs its distribution, in the same manner
is done by greater bosses in larger cities. He
is a man of education, writes and spells like
boy of eleven, but he knows men, Is good
SNUG, good -natured face is always smoothly
shaver, his hair is closely cropped. his linen
fresh. AS boss, and q copy of larger bosses,
he wears diamond shirt stud As little boss
it is a comparatively little diamond, only
800 twinKler, but it suggests the larger pro-
totypc. and serves to make the boss's picture
complete
The action of the jury in failing to agree upon
verdict of guilty in this most fragrant crime is
meeting with execraton all over the State, and
the seven Democratic jurors who, from the first
vote in the jury-room to the last, stood out for
the acquittal of the thieves, solely by reason of
their being of like politics. go to their homes
overwhelmed with the indignation their conduct
has aroused, for there is large element of the
Democratic party who view the crime of Coy
and his colleagues in the right light and desire
their punishment not only for the sake of just
ice, but good policy for the party
Meeting Col. Eli F. Ritter, leading Prohibit
zionist, to whom, in 1886. was offered the NOM
ination of that party for Governor, the writer
asked him what the effect of the trial, with it's
ineonclusive ending. would be. Something
must be DONE" said the Colonel "to relieve In
diana of the disgrace which failure to agree
upon the part of that jury, because of party pref
udice, has placed upon her. l recognize good Re-
publican campaign thunder in the outcome of the
trial and the defense of the gang by the leading
Democratic paper Of the State but the demand for
justice should be above all party considerations
Here is a crime against the voice of the people
expressed at an election, the greatest politica.
crime in our State history, with positive testi
mony to individuals, strengthened with the
strongest circumstantial CONFORMATION, and yet
the jury stands on question of guilt they
stand question of poitics-they vote in de-
liberatng verdict as they vote at the
polls"
Lucius b. Swift, the leading Indiana mug
wump said to the writer: II do not think the
political effect of this trial can be anything but
harmful to the Democrats. The governments
against these conspirators almost i'm
pregnable. Take the question of fraud. and in a
civil case no lawyer would ask a better case than
the government had here to go before jury.
e. Mcdonald, Hon. William H. English and
the indianapolis Sentinel, have placed
themselves as apOl02gisss and defenders
Mr.. Mcdonald expressed himself
long before this case came on, as not wanting
that the Democratic party by its leaders is
placed in very bad position. for the leaders are
doing all they can to prevent conviction do
not think any party that upholds set of jury
canvass in Indiana with any show OF success.
The reform wing of the Democracy
cannot go on. / believe the rank and file of
the Democratic party are as aw-abiding and
DESTROYS of having criminals punished
Republicans. AS to the action of the reform ele-
ment that is admirably represented in this city
by Sas T. Bowen, William Henderson, Alexan-
der B. Conduit, Judge Claypool and the Demo-
organized to prosecute the tally-sheet changers.
These gentlemen honest and earnest,
we'll satisfied of the guilt of all or most of the
conspirators as are any of the Republican mem
bers of the committee"
Coy the head of the frauds and forger;ss, is
to-day the best-knowD man in Indiana He is
called Little Tweed, 1.-THE king of the toughs,"
and given other names that delineate his char
acter and standing. AS to character, he is
hero to the law breaking element. His fame
has gone abroad. and no thief, confidence man,
pug1list breaker of any prominence
comes to Indianapolis without making
his call, doubtless with letters of intro
duction, upon Simeon Coy at his saloon,
which Is upon the most prominent
square in this city. Mr.. Coy does not himself
stand behind his bar and sell intoxicants He
has a handsomely fitted up Office in his saloon
where he his callers and talks business.
That he has the whip-hand upon the big
men in the party is shown by the fact that not
withstanding Coys notorious reputation. Will
liam H. English, who in 1880 Democratic
candidate for the vicepresidencv, went upon
the stand during Coys trial the other day and
testified that he was man of good reputation
and excellent character.
There is no noubt whatever that cool-headed,
far sighted Repub lcans who ardently desire the
success of their party are ubilant over the action
of the jury and it's Endorsement by the Demo
cratic leaders. The effect in Indian apolis will
be shown. The city election, at which
Mayor, clerk. aldermen and councilmen are to be
ch osen, will take place in November Coy has
the direction of the Democratic canvass, with
John f. Sullivan. one of the indicted and tried
conspirators, the head of the Democratic city
committee. The Republican candidate for
mayor elected in November 1885, by a
made that he will be elected by more than 1900
over Edenharter, his antagonist who is dis
tinctively Coy's personal candidate. This con-
fdentlv predicted result will, there is scarcely q
doubt, take place. When it does, the effect
upon the entire State will be great